A young World Youth Day (WYD) pilgrim was arrested after
allegedly jumping on a gay protester and punching him in the neck
during a colourful Sydney demonstration against Pope Benedict
XVI.

Stefan Joksic, 23, was among about 500 protesters voicing
opposition to the Pope's stand against condoms, homosexuality and
abortion when he was targeted by a 19-year-old pilgrim from
Newcastle, NSW.

Mr Joksic, who was wearing a T-shirt with the slogan Pope Go
Homo, said the pilgrim was saying "f you", "you're all wrong", and
"go to Hell".

"(He) found a break in the police line and just lunged for me.
He was pulled back by the cops. He hit me on the side of the neck,"
he said.

The pilgrim was not charged and was released shortly after the
incident, police said in a statement.

The protesters - led by a utility vehicle with an effigy of the
Pope in the tray - won their right to "annoy" pilgrims when the
Federal Court overturned a portion of the WYD regulations this
week.

Angered by the Pope's stance against condoms, homosexuality and
abortion, the NoToPope Coalition, including a man dressed as the
devil, some drag queens and a pink alien, engaged in good-natured
exchanges with pilgrims.

They spent almost an hour chanting at the sidelines of the
pilgrimage walk to Randwick Racecourse, where WYD will tomorrow
conclude with a papal mass.

They lobbed condoms, red in colour to promote HIV awareness, and
waved placards at the pilgrims making their way to an evening vigil
with the Pope, and a night under the stars.